There was no shortage of connections who winced after drawing double-digit gates in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot, but Dan Morton wasn’t one of them.
The man who trains favourite Alaskan God was content to see him allocated barrier 14, which will become 12 if the two emergencies drawn inside him don’t gain a start in the field of 16.
Morton would much rather the son of Playing God, who will be ridden by Chris Parnham, draw there than hard up against the fence.
“He’s a big, rangy horse who needs to be in a moving line probably, so he should get that opportunity from where he’s drawn,” Morton said.
“I think Chris would be pretty happy with the draw. Ideally, we’ll get in the three-deep-with-cover line and in a moving line where he needs to be.”
The four-year-old will be lining up for just the eighth start of his career in the Railway, in which he has 53kg, and coming off only his second defeat after a first-up sixth placing in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) when he was still second-last at the 150m.
Alaskan God won all five starts last preparation, culminating with the Group 2 Western Australian Derby (2400m).
“He sems to be effective over most journeys, but I’m mindful he’s probably better off over further,” Morton said when asked how Alaskan God would fare over the Railway distance.
“At this level it’s probably as short as he wants to go, but I think we’ve got him pretty fit for the event.”
Three of the other leading fancies, Ironclad, Trix Of The Trade and Karli’s Karma, drew barriers seven, eight and nine respectively, while Asian Beau Stakes winner Treasured Star was one whose connections were downcast after the draw, coming up with the outside gate.
If there is to be an upset in the Railway Stakes, it could be via Alaska God’s stablemate Startrade, who Morton was happy to see drawn down towards the inside.
The six-year-old beat home Alaskan God in the Asian Beau, finishing runner-up at $51, and Morton is delighted with his frame of mind.
“He’s the real deal and he’s probably above the odds in my view,” Morton said of the gelding who will be ridden by Chris Nicoll.
“The horse is in great shape, he’s a bit of an evergreen, and you just can’t seem to dent is enthusiasm.”